The WaterLANDS Artists-in-Residence and team gathered in person for the second time at the WaterLANDS General Assembly, held in Leeds. Our hosts, Laura Harrington, Fiona MacDonald (Feral Practice), and Joshua Cohen (an anthropologist from the University of Leeds), guided us around Malham tarn, an upland blanket bog in the Yorkshire Dales national park. The artists shared reflections on their process of engaging with and exploring the site. They spoke of the grief they experienced as they witnessed the landscape shifting and drying, as well as the discoveries they made by observing the rich microscopic world that exist within post-restoration pools, which the artists described as portals into another world. They also spoke about the burgeoning hope they feel, describing how, where restoration has been effectively implemented, the landscape has shown a remarkable capacity to recover and flourish. As they put it: “There’s a seed bank in the soil, just waiting for the right moment.”

Now mid-way through the residency, each of the artists from the six sites shared insights into their processes and work during a dedicated session at the General Assembly. They also outlined their plans for the remainder of the residency, which has been ongoing for the past two years and will culminate in 2026 at the conclusion of the project.

Distinct themes are already emerging which are rooted in the unique context of each site, yet common threads can be seen that weave the sites and artists together. Themes such as care, history, culture, and community resonated throughout the conversations, highlighting shared values across diverse landscapes.